Complete Guide for New Cat Owners

Before buying a cat, it’s important to know the cost associated with buying your new pet, as well as all the items you’ll want to get before bringing your new kitten home. Below, we outline our top recommendations for what to purchase and budget for when buying a cat!

Food

You’ll want to do research on the best kind of cat food based on your cat’s size, breed, and any health factors. You can also consult with your vet on the best kind of food for your new cat. Once you’ve decided what food, you’ll want to have a general idea for how much to budget for your cat’s food each month and ensure you have a good schedule for purchasing your cat’s food to ensure they don’t run out and are kept on a healthy eating schedule.

Litter Box and Litter

It’s important before you bring your new kitten home to ensure you have a litter box and good litter available. Depending on your cat’s diet, the frequency in which you change their little box and purchase littler will vary, but you’ll likely want to budget at least some money monthly to getting litter.

Toys

While this may not be necessary when buying a cat, it’s nice to buy them a few toys to allow them to feel at home. Cat toys are generally fairly cheap, but you’ll want to invest in a few good ones, and maybe even a cat tree or bed, to provide your new kitten with a great experience as they adjust to their new home.

Medicine

Cats will require frequent medicine for fleas, worms, and ticks. You’ll want to consult with your vet about which are the best medicines for each of these, but it’s a good idea to begin talking with your vet about this before you get your cat so you can have these medicines available when you bring your cat home.

Vet

If you don’t already have pets, you’ll want to establish your cat with a vet you trust and like. You can ask family, friends, or look online for good vets in your area, and you’ll want to make sure they have experience and positive reviews. The cost of a vet can be expensive, but you’ll want to make sure you establish your kitten with a vet you trust to help with any needs that may come up.

Spaying and Neutering

While some cats may already be spayed and neutered, if your cat is not, you’ll want to budget money to get them spayed or neutered fairly soon after you get them. This can be pretty pricey and is likely one of the more expensive upfront costs when purchasing a cat. However, you’ll want to ensure you are prepared to have your cat spayed or neutered fairly soon after you get them.

Microchip

This isn’t required when purchasing a cat, but it is a great idea if you are concerned about your cat getting lost. Microchipping is usually fairly cheap, but it allows you to be called if your pet is ever lost and scanned for a microchip. This is a great investment to pursue when you get a cat.

Collar

You’ll want to make sure your cat has a collar, particularly if they will be an outside cat. This, like the microchip, is great if your cat gets lost because you can put your contact information on their collar and allow others to return them to you if found. Collars are generally cheap and a great choice to purchase for your cat.

Are you a cat owner? What are some other things you tried to purchase when you got your cat? Share your thoughts below!